Charity worker Ruth Bond is urging Chronicle readers to open their hearts, and their wallets, for children who survived a bloody school siege which led to hundreds of deaths.

Chernobyl Children Life Line is inviting at least 60 children who survived the Beslan atrocity to spend a month in the UK.

The visit will cost money and Ruth, a volunteer for the charity, wants people to help ensure the visit, proposed for next April, goes ahead by giving generously. Official records say 344 civilians, including at least 172 children, were killed and hundreds more wounded but the number of family tombs and death certificates suggests the true death toll is three times higher.

* Anyone willing to help should make cheques payable to Chernobyl Children Life Line - Beslan Project and send them to Chernobyl Children Life Line, Courts, 61 Petworth Road, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 3AX.